Thill-support



(No Model.)

- M. V. B.'H0WE.

THILL SUPPORT. 'No. 550,973. Patented Dec. 10, 1895.

Inventor.

1 mi -M- ,3

Attorneys ANDREW EGRAHAM. PMOTD-U'IHQWASNINETDNDL,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIhLV. B. I-IOIVE, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

THlLL-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,973, dated December 10, 1895.

Application filed July 29, 1895. Serial No. 557,417. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN V. B. HOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gardner, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Shaft-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong, simple, and inexpensive device for adjustably supporting the thills or shafts of carrlages.

To these ends my invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings,I igure l is a partial side view of a carriage with my adj ustable shaft-supporter applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating my invention.

An adjustable shaft-supporter constructed according to my invention comprises a split or slotted body portion, a slotted metallic hook adjustably mounted in the slot of said body portion, and means for clamping the parts together, whereby the device may be adapted to different carriages and whereby the parts may be firmly secured, so that they will not rattle or become displaced.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates the body portion or brace, which is preferably made of wood, and is provided near its lower end with a central longitudinally-extending cut or slot a. Extending transversely through the body portion A is a series of perforations a.

A metallic securing-hook B is arranged to extend through the groove a in the body portion and is provided with a curved longitudinal adj usting-slot b. At its outer end the hook B is provided with a downwardlyextending section b for engaging the rockerbar or other convenient part of the carriage.

A clamping-bolt C may be inserted in any of the perforations a, and threaded onto the end of the bolt 0 is a butterfly-nut D for adjustably clamping the parts together.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the hook B may engage with the rocker-bar or other convenient part of the carriage, and the parts may be adjusted so that the lower end of the body portion will rest against the front axle, while the upper end will bear upon and support the shafts by engaging the cross-bar thereof.

Small pieces d and d, of leather, rubber, or similar material, may be secured upon the rear face of the body portion A, as shown, in order to prevent the device from scratching or scarring the part of the axle to which the same is applied.

In the use of a shaft-supporter constructed according to my invention it is to be noted that the hook B can turn or swivel about the clamping-bolt O and may be adjusted longitudinally by means of the slot 1).

When the nut D is tightened, the lower sections of the body portion will be forced tightly into engagement with the hook B, and the parts will be firmly held together. I consider this a feature of particular importance in a shaft-supporter constructed according to my invention, as the parts cannot rattle or become displaced with respect to each other, and when the device has once been adjusted for use in connection with a particular carriage it is always ready for immediate application thereto.

I am aware that changes may be made in theconstruction of my improved shaft-support by those who are skilled in the art without departing from the scope 'of my invention as expressed in the claim. I do not Wish, therefore, to be limited to the exact construction which I have shown and described;

but

What'I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,'is

In a shaft-supporter, the combination of a split or slotted wooden body portion A, having a series of transverse perforations a, a metallic hook 13, having an adjusting slot 1), a bolt 0 adapted to the perforations in said body portion, and a nut D for adjustably clamping the parts together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. V. B. HOWE. Witnesses:

LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

